Settling In

My week and a half has been hard because of me.  I haven't really been able to get my tech stuff working.  Partly my fault, partly just that it's all new to me, and partly because the computer and other things have not worked as they should.  There are people here who understand much more than I do and are great at tech, but they're all busy and not where I have access to them.  And most of the training that I'm supposed to be doing is on the internet.   I've been very frustrated and I've taken some of that frustration out on my companion who is on her third mission and seems to know how to do and know everything with ease.  I'm learning a lot about the repentance process.

Most of the Jamaicans speak so that we understand.  The brother over our program is one of the most difficult for me to understand.  He is wonderful and is as new to the program as we are.  Actually, the program is not yet rolled out for us, so we're just in the preparation mode.  I think that Christmas has something to do with it as well as that church headquarters has been piloting the program and is still tweaking it.  I'm sure that the Lord has directed my call, so I'll eventually know what I'm doing and what I have to offer. 

The people here are very warm and loving and very gospel oriented.  I wish that everyone in America could get to meet them and hear their testimonies and the emphasis that they put on living the gospel, on following the Savior and the way they love each other.  Our branch president came from El Salvador at least recently.  I think he might have been Guatemalan.  All of the mission presidency and the people in the office except for the mission secretary couple are Jamaicans.  They are wonderful people with strong testimonies and total focus on the Lord.  

They are preparing for a stake in April and it will be such a blessing for them.  They are also preparing for a trip for the youth to go to a youth conference in April and to take parents of those youth who haven't been to the temple so they can go to the temple. 

Christmas is very different here.  Not nearly so commercial.  They celebrate (members and non members alike) by getting together with friends and family and eating.  (a lot)  I've gotten the impression that few people give gifts and they don't expect them.